Browsed byAuthor: Jay

Sixteen years ago I traveled to Madrid and did not like if very much. Actually, I didn’t like it at all. On subsequent trips back to Spain, Barcelona was my go-to city. Not sure why but this time around I fell in love with Madrid. Could be maturity. Could be perspective. Could be Madrid actually changed for the better.

Maggie the Koala and Me in Australia There are very few things I regret in life. But a huge regret is being actively involved in animal tourism, well activities that may have involved animal suffering. I LOVE animals, always have, dogs of course are my favorite. The cruelty the animals involved in tourism go through was brought to my attention in Petra, Jordan. In my rush to see the Holy Grail of all tourism sites, Petra (think Raiders of the…

Triumphal Arch in Comercio Square Always on my list of places to visit, location, time or circumstances always seemed to make a visit to Lisbon impossible. Landing on the best places to retire list only increased my desire to see this beautiful country. Viva Lisboa!!!

Needing a place to rest was foremost in my mind when I chose to return to Mexico. Also at the top of the list was affordability. Mexico remains a place where I can eat three meals a day, have a cup of coffee, buy a newspaper and spend less than fifteen dollars; most days around six dollars.

Living Outside the Boundaries Life on the Road! What is it really like? People who hear about the year long journey I am undertaking generally respond by assuming that I am having a ball partying around the world. They think I am meeting exotic men, going to great parties, eating fantastic food, and exploring remote places. They assume the nomadic lifestyle is easy-peasy and fun times are abundant. Well I can honestly say that all of this was true about…

The BUDGET! Your Questions Answered By far, the budget is the area I receive the most questions, especially from those who want to do their own unique version of extended travel. Before answering your questions let me make one thing perfectly clear, “I ain’t got no money.” In Standard English, “I am not a wealthy person”. I am living as well as I would in the United States, at a fraction of the cost. This might indicate I am smart,…

Germany Marktkirche (Market Church) in Wiesbaden Construction began in 1823 Hello from Germany, my second home. After living in Wiesbaden for eight years it is strange to view Wiesbaden from a tourist’s perspective. As I was taking pictures for the blog I was reminded how breathtakingly beautiful Wiesbaden is, as well as the surrounding towns. Wiesbaden in central Germany, is the capital of the state of Hessen. Surrounded by Frankfurt, Darmstadt, and Mainz it lies in the heart of Hessen. I have spent many…

I chose Luang Prabang as a destination simply because it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. That was all I needed to know. I admit that I am a UNESCO groupie. The first thing I look for when I travel is the availability of a Toastmasters Club and the second thing is a search to see if there is a UNSECO heritage site nearby.

Thailand Part II Vibrant colors abound in Thailand. I was walking one day in the heat, and pretty miserable I might add. I happened to look up and high above my head, dangling from the trees I saw these beautiful red umbrellas. I stopped to rest under their added shade, and took a few minutes to admire how beautiful they looked. I immediately felt better (not cooler) but better. Thailand is definitely one of the color capitols of the world.

THAILAND About sixteen years ago I traveled through southern Thailand. I was working in Japan and on spring break. I was there during Songkran, the Thai New Year. Eventually I moved on to Phuket and Pi Pi Islands. Thailand was phenomenal.